This has been a crazy week of more work, more creating, more preparation, more planning and more reminiscing………

This past week there was more work and more creating because I have been busy making an audition tape to have my very own show on Oprah’s OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network)! The Ope (as I call her) is running a contest to find a great concept for a new show on her new network. This is the moment that I have been waiting for! Over the past five years, I have written a book that is ready to be published. As you know, the essence of my message is the importance of making lasting connections to family and friends and…..creating meaningful life experiences (much of what I blog about). Well, Chuck gets the “Husband of the Year” award because I wanted to strike while the iron was hot, which was, of course, an hour before our Chicago Black Hawks played Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals. At one point, he was working the camera and holding my “cue cards” up over his head……while both the Hawks and the Flyers each scored a goal minutes in to the first period. Oops. With a little editing and uploading it was ready to go (thanks to my dear friend Julia and her very patient and generous husband Marcus.).

So here’s the deal….. I need your help!! Please view my audition tape and vote (early and often…that’s the Chicago way). If you would be so kind, please forward my submission to your family and friends and ask them to vote too (BTW….. there is no limit to the number of votes you can place; again, that’s the Chicago way).

More planning was involved in preparation of our family’s celebration of Amanda’s 8th grade graduation. My dad came in from Colorado. My brother came in for 24 hours from Atlanta. There was of course the fire drill of 13 people arriving for dinner at 4:30 in the afternoon, and the mad dash out the door to make it to the church on time….. I can’t wait to share my lasagna recipe with you. It was outstanding!

My eyes were misty with more reminiscing…..

When exactly did my little one grow up? Amanda has always been our baby. In fact, we call her Sister, or Sissy, or Sis, short for Little Sister (sometimes I simply call her by her middle name, Cathleen, and she answers…..). Well, Wednesday our girl graduated from the 8th grade. I know that graduating from 8th grade, in and of itself, might not seem like an accomplishment, but it does mark the passage of time. As a family, we are finishing our 13th and final year at Our Lady of Perpetual Donations Grammar School. At the age of 14, Amanda has been a student here for 11 years, so as you can imagine, we have been there for a very long time (practically since the time of the dinosaurs!).

How do you say good bye to a place that cared for and nurtured your children and helped them develop in to smart, caring and giving people? It’s a little bit like leaving home.

This was Amanda on her first day of 3 year old Pre-School.

11 years later, this is Amanda as she walked out the door to her graduation.

When one door closes, another one opens. I guess we are ready to start a new chapter in our lives. Amanda is starting High School and I want my own show with Oprah. It’s going to be quite a book….

Thank you for being so supportive. Please remember….. Vote Early and Vote Often!!!!